PHOENIX — A 42-year-old Mexican national accused of shooting and killing a man during an attempted carjacking was indicted on five counts by a federal grand jury on Wednesday.
Julio Cesar Aguirre is facing the possibility of the death penalty in two of the five charges.
Prosecutors allege that Aguirre, a Mexican citizen living in the U.S. illegally, shot and killed a man while attempting to carjack the victim’s Toyota Tundra on June 30 in Tucson.
The victim was shot with a 9mm handgun.
Police found Aguirre hiding in a nearby shed and found a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol nearby.
Aguirre, who was removed from the U.S. in 2013, is prohibited from possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
This afternoon, a federal grand jury in Tucson indicted Julio Cesar Aguirre on five counts, including Attempted Carjacking Resulting in Death.
The full press release can be found here: https://t.co/2OmZrYTOyf pic.twitter.com/J5oVu8iF8x
— US Attorney Arizona (@USAO_AZ) July 31, 2025
The crime led to Aguirre being indicted on five charges, the most serious being attempted carjacking resulting in death and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence causing death.
The maximum penalty for both of those charges is either life in prison or death.
“The focus in this case should be on the senseless loss of the victim and the pain that loss creates for his family and friends,” United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in a release. “Our criminal laws exist to protect our community, and the United States has an obligation to enforce those laws.”
Prosecution part of larger operation
The case is being prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America.
It’s a nationwide initiative that allows field marshals to use the full resources of the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration and eliminate cartels.
Tucson Police worked in conjunction with the FBI Phoenix Division in Tucson to conduct the investigation and had assistance from the Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force.
The prosecution is being handled by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson.
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